Charity's plan to create cycle lane within half a mile of every home in London

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Every household in London would be within half a mile of a cycle lane under an £80 million plan published today to create the world’s biggest urban network for bicycle users by 2020.

Transport charity Sustrans is in talks with City Hall to revolutionise cycling in the capital, with a 1,000km network being built using some of the £900 million-plus fund secured by the Mayor for cycle schemes over the next decade.

The project would require minor upgrades to roads over eight years, with the £10 million-a-year cost being shared between Transport for London, councils and the Big Lottery Fund.

The plan, called Connect London, identifies “quiet roads” which will act as local links to existing cycle superhighways. The aim is to encourage people to get on their bikes for short journeys, such as to the shops or on the school run.

Sustrans — which promotes sustainable transport and devised the original National Cycle Network in 2000 — proposes a variety of upgrades, including segregated lanes, lower speed limits, shared paths and traffic calming.

Their experts have criss-crossed the city, testing and mapping a network whose tentacles would reach each of the 33 local authorities. Dr German Dector-Vega, Sustrans director for London, said: “It’s huge and will connect every part of London, with no house more than half a mile away from a cycle route. There’s been a lot of focus, rightly, on cycle safety and on the Olympics, but nobody has thought, ‘Right what next?’

“If you want to cycle to work you can use [the proposed network] to access the cycle superhighway, but you can also use it to get to your local market or park. We are not targeting the people who cycle all the time, but the people who don’t.”

There are about half a million cycle journeys each day in London but Sustrans said huge potential for growth remained, with some 40 per cent of Londoners owning a bike and about 250,000 bikes being left unused.

Previously Sustrans has rubberstamped 400km of safe roads for TfL. It was also funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority to create eight “gold network” routes into the Olympic Park, including one that runs along the Greenway path through east London.

Ben Plowden, director of planning, TfL surface transport, said: “We are committed to prioritising the development of a network of cycling routes.

“TfL has a strong working relationship with Sustrans and other cycling stakeholders that inform our thinking and planning. We look forward to working with all our stakeholders.”

'A move in the right direction'

Richard Coombes, 41, executive coach from Hackney: “There is a long way to go in London. People need to learn how to deal with cyclists and cyclists need to learn to use the roads safely. The cycle superhighway is useless if people don’t use them properly. What they need to do is let people know that they will get into trouble if they break the rules.”

Jodi Woodhouse, 32, art consultant from Islington: “I won’t use the cycle lanes. They are too crowded, too narrow and ridiculously dangerous. During the rush hour it can be a nightmare. I think the only way London could possibly become safe for cyclists is to completely rebuild it. The streets are too small for both cars and bikes.”

Joanne Green, 36, policy head from Wapping: “More cycle lanes is definitely a move in the right direction, but I think that it will take more than that to make London safe for cyclists.”

Giuseppe Craparotta, 37, web designer from Wapping: “To cycle in London you need an easier environment and that would give cyclists what they need. More cycle lanes would be great. London is better than some cities because people actually pay attention to you.”